What gives us confidence is not that we are careful enough, but that our God is watchful enough.

Often, we wonder –

El Roi means “The God Who Sees” – I love the kindness and care that this name holds as it points to God’s character.

He sees the hidden snare.

Often, we wonder how am I doing?   We are always looking for approval.  Lot of talk about Green card, Citizenship etc.,

Peer Influence & Conformity:

---  In order to have a healthy walk with the Lord – we need God’s approval and not Man’s approval… 

How do we get God’s approval?   Let’s look at Daniel’s life…

#1: Faithfulness Under Pressure

Insight:

Verse:

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room… Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."

Deeper Insight:

Example:

Modern Application:

Reflection:

🙏 2. Prayer Is Power

Insight:

Verse:

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

Deeper Insight:

Example:

Modern Application:

Reflection:

👑 3. God Honors Those Who Honor Him

Insight:

Verse:

“Them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

Deeper Insight:

Example:

Modern Application:

Reflection:

👼 4. God Sends Angels in Crisis

Insight:

Verse:

“My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.”

Deeper Insight:

Example:

Modern Application:

Reflection:

Zechariah 4:2 – 3  (Vision):

V6:  ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’

V10: For who has despised the day of small things?

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Zechariah 4 is rich with symbolism, encouraging the Israelites to rely on God's Spirit in rebuilding the temple. Let’s examine each element in more detail, with supporting Bible verses and practical examples.

#1:  "Not by Might, Nor by Power, but by My Spirit"

God’s message to Zerubbabel underscores reliance on the Spirit rather than human strength or military power. This message applies to any endeavor where human resources are limited, but God’s power makes a way.

• Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”

At some point, “We have to stop talking to God about your mountain and start talking to the mountain about your God”

* Anxiety or addiction mountains of depression or fear or shame

* You can’t let that mountain intimidate you

At some point enough is enough

• Obstacle is the way that mountain is gonna make you a bigger person

Whatever you tolerate will eventually dominate that is robbing God of his glory pleasing and perfect will

What are you tolerating that is permissible but not beneficial

What are you tolerating that undermines the price Jesus paid on the cross

• For your salvation

Start talking to that mountain and see what God does.

Zechariah 4:6 encourages you to trust that God’s Spirit can enable the project beyond what human power could accomplish.

#2:  Don’t despise the small beginnings

We overestimate what we can do in a year or two instead of seeing what God can do in 10 or 20

In building the temple:  The Lord says, “Do not despise the day of small beginnings” Why?

God will do big things like they are little things

• When we get our knees in prayer

God sets divine appointments for the Lord rejoices

God is great because nothing is too small he rejoices plum line

• was an ancient architectural device

All you have to do the little things like big things, then God will do the big things like small things

Don’t despise the day of small beginnings.

This vision, then, teaches that God’s work relies on His Spirit, not human might. The temple in Jerusalem was ultimately completed by Zerubbabel and Joshua’s guidance, fulfilling this prophecy and illustrating that God’s Spirit works powerfully through those who trust in Him.

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Nothing is done, unless the father says – it is done.

• When God decides to do something through your life – There is nothing, the enemy can do.

35As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging. 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

37“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

38So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get up! He is calling for you.”

50Throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus.

51“What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

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When Bartimaeus realized Jesus had stopped and called for him, he threw off his cloak. (Mark 10:50) 

The cloak Bartimaeus was wearing would’ve been heavy. Perhaps this is the reason he threw it off. He didn’t want anything slowing him down on his way to Jesus.  

But perhaps there was something more going on . . .  

At first glance, Bartimaeus throwing off his cloak seems like a minor detail.  

But this is why it’s so important to slow down and pay attention to the little things as we study Scripture. To dig into the context of a verse. And learn about the cultural and historical backgrounds.  

Because throwing off the cloak was actually a big deal.  

• The cloak was an outer garment that was not only used like a long coat but was also used as a blanket at night for protection against the cold.

This garment was so important to the ancient Israelites that they were forbidden to keep it as security on loans (Exodus 22:26-27, Deuteronomy 24:12-13). 

• This cloak would have also served as Bartimaeus’s means of acquiring money. 

Scholars believe he would have sat down and spread his cloak over his lap. This way people could drop money onto the cloak so he could easily collect it.  

Which means this cloak would have symbolized his means to protect himself and acquire what he needed to survive.  

• But it also meant one more thing . . . it was a symbol of his old way of life. And he chose to cast it aside.  

He had complete and total faith that after he met Jesus . . . he would no longer need it.  

It is no coincidence that Paul puts “love” first in the fruit of the Spirit. The Greek word for love in this instance is agape.

It is the highest form of the different kinds of love expressed by distinct Greek words, including eros (romantic love), philia (friendship love) and storge (familial love).

• Agape is the kind of love God has for his creation. It is pure, selfless and self-sacrificing. It seeks the best for others — even enemies — at all times, at all costs. A beautiful description of agape love is found in the Bible verses of

1 Corinthians 13, a well-known passage of Scripture.

God showed his agape love for us in sacrificing his only Son to save us from our sinful nature.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

The joy, Paul refers to in Galatians 5 is much deeper than a sense of happiness or gladness from life’s circumstances. It is a profound delight and rejoicing that comes from knowing and serving God.

The Bible describes the importance of this divine joy to the Christian’s life:

Nehemiah 8:10,

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

Peace is an unshakeable inner calm that can be a rare quality in turbulent times.

We, in the walk with the Lord,  can call on God’s Holy Spirit to impart a sense of peace when things seem to be spinning out of control.

And the peace that comes from the Spirit is not just a small comfort.

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In Philippians 4:6 – 7,  Paul describes it as beyond human understanding in one of Scripture’s most reassuring passages:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 5:22 – 23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Forbearance is the characteristic or quality of greatness of spirit, a person who faces adversity with courage, in the Bible we see that this is a virtue of those who are good and generous and have faith in God to help solve their problems.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Ephesians 4: 1-2 (NIV)

We may seem weak in the eyes of the world or even foolish in maintaining this conduct, but in truth this fruit of the Spirit, helps us to have discernment and wisdom to resolve adversities with the wisdom that comes from above.

• Mercy, patience, tolerance and self-control, are words that relate directly to this fruit and are essential characteristics for those who have been saved.

The idea of forbearance arises in the Bible under different words.

• Forbearance could be explained as showing patience, even though a thing is owed to us.

Today, we will focus on kindness!

• Kindness is not merely superficial nicety or a random act of goodwill. It goes deeper.
  

It springs from a heart that is attuned to the needs of others and seeks to alleviate their burdens.